The capital... at last

My final destination in China is the big one. I think I've saved a goodie to last too I've only been here a day but there's a really nice vibe and the hostel I stumbled across on the web which is situated in one of the peaceful hutongs is lovely.
(A hutong is an area of small traditional streets and houses where your common and garden Beijinger traditionally lives, there's not so many of them left now as your friendly local communist government knocked a lot of them down for various reasons, one being the Olympics and those that remain have been spruced up with fresh slaps of concrete.
Well I've made them sound awful but they are still nice, honest)

After going to bed VERY early Thursday I had to get up at the crack again to get across the city to the Mongolian consul and despite a late scare regarding invitations they've issued the visa with no quibbles. So that's all the visas done and dusted (to my great relief). I need not apply for one ever again, or at least not until I do another trip, hmmm.

I then dropped in on the Chinese astrology museum, not something I'm massively interested in but it was close and cheap. Had some pretty cool Jesuit built instruments and was as old as Greenwich which makes it one of the first ever built!

The birds nest

Then went to pick up and pay for my Beijing to Ulaanbaatar train ticket which cost about 75 quid, another piece of the jigsaw home.

Inside the stadium

Jumped on the excellent Beijing subway and went to check out the Olympic area. Pretty impressive they are too and for 4 quid you can go in the main stadium and wonder around on the track and green. Lots of very odd dummies strewn around with stocking over there heads, bank robber style where on view. They where adorned in the various costumes from the opening ceremony and the medal ceremonies.
Also saw the waster cube which is a cool building but didn't stump up dosh to go in there as well.

NICE!

Got back to the hostel and got confirmation of my train ticket from Irkutsk to Moscow, a stiff 250 quid but it does take 75 hours. So I'm nearly all lined up for the trip home. Still 6 weeks away though so don't all get too excited!

written by

Dan on October 17, 2008 from Beijing, China

from the travel blog: Been there, Dan that!

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